Travel and Tourism

The travel and tourism industry employs over 64,000 people in the state of Connecticut, and is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. (US Travel Association, 2009) In the Travel and Tourism program, students acquire the event planning, leadership, promotion and management skills necessary for an exciting career in the travel and tourism industry. Graduates of Travel and Tourism might find careers in convention centers and bureaus, commercial recreation facilities, tourism and visitor bureaus, conference and retreat centers, cruise lines, and for-profit consulting agencies as a:

Course Requirements

In addition to the department's core courses, students will take the following concentration-specific courses:

Travel and Tourism: Principles and Practices - 3 credits
Tourism Planning, Marketing & Promotion - 3 credits
Seminar: Commercial Recreation - 3 credits
Tourism Impacts, Planning & Management - 3 credits
Travel & Tourism Management -Specific Internship - 6 credits

Internship

One of the key academic and professional development experiences our students receive is field experience through internships. There are generally two internships required of the undergraduate student. One internship follows the junior year, after successful completion of prerequisite upper division courses, which prepares students for programming in a variety of settings. This 300-level internship is customarily a summer experience, entailing an 8-week, 320-hour exposure in an approved setting under both agency professional and university faculty supervision. This internship is followed by additional upper division coursework in preparation for the 400-level internship the following summer, entailing a 12-week, 480-hour experience with emphasis on supervision, administrative and management duties. Agency and university supervision is provided. For a more detailed explanation of the internship requirements, please read our handout.
The two internships combined earn the student 9 credit hours toward the degree and enhance preparedness for professional employment. Along with the portfolio, internships fill out the student's profile as a prepared and well-rounded individual ready for the challenges of the profession.The internship process is an important part of the student's education and preparation for their future careers. In the past, students have successfully completed internships at the following:

Heritage Hotel                                                                                         
Salmon Brook Historical Society 

Advisory Committee for the Travel and Tourism Program

Randy LeGrant, Executive Director, Geovisions.org
Dan Stack, Director of Operations, Heritage Hotel


For more information, please contact the advisor for the Travel and Tourism program:
 Dr. Jan Jones
(203) 392-8837
Jonesj39@southernct.edu